Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 128 - Department of Housing: Municipal Housing Projects
Section 8-68h. - Tenant escrow accounts.

(a) Each housing authority created pursuant to section 8-40 shall establish in accordance with this section a program to enable tenants to save funds sufficient to rent a private dwelling unit or to make a down payment for a home.

(b) Each housing authority shall notify each tenant residing in units operated by the authority whose rent exceeds the fair market value for a dwelling unit of equivalent size for the area established under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, that such tenant is eligible for the program established under this section. Upon written request of an eligible tenant, the housing authority shall deposit in a non-interest-bearing escrow account for such tenant in a financial institution an amount equal to the difference between the rent due to the authority from the tenant and the fair market rental for a dwelling unit of equivalent size for the area established under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended. Each deposit into a tenant escrow account shall be made from rent payments received by the housing authority from the tenant. The funds in such account shall be used by the tenant to rent a private dwelling unit or for a down payment for a home. The written request shall state the amount the tenant determines to be sufficient to rent a private dwelling unit or to make a down payment for a home. Upon written request of the tenant, the director may revise such amount once a year, on or after the time the account reaches one hundred per cent of such amount or at such other time the director of the housing authority deems appropriate. Such revision shall be based on rental and sales price levels for housing in the area.
(c) The director of the housing authority shall notify the tenant, in writing, when the balance in such account equals seventy-five per cent of the amount specified by the tenant in the notice to the authority under subsection (b) of this section. The authority shall also provide written notice to the tenant when the balance equals such specified amount. No deposit shall be made by the authority into a tenant escrow account in excess of such specified amount. The director shall annually provide the tenant with a report stating the balance in the account.
(d) After receipt of notice that the balance in the account equals the specified amount, the tenant shall have one hundred eighty days to vacate the unit in the housing project. If the tenant fails to vacate, the funds in the account shall revert to the housing authority. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, the director shall extend the time period to vacate if additional time is needed for the tenant to find other housing or for other good cause.
(e) Prior to vacating his dwelling unit, the tenant shall submit to the director documentation satisfactory to the director that the funds in the account shall be used for rental of a private dwelling unit or for a down payment on a house. The director shall remit the funds in the escrow account to the tenant upon receipt of such documentation.
(f) The director shall order reversion to the housing authority of the funds in any escrow account established under this section (1) not less than one hundred eighty days after the tenant receives notice that the account equals the specified amount unless such time limit has been extended pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, (2) upon receipt by the tenant of a written finding by the director that it is not reasonable to expect the balance to ever equal the specified amount because of a financial hardship experienced by the tenant or (3) if the tenant becomes thirty days in arrears in his rental payments to the authority. In the case of reversion under subdivision (3) of this subsection, if, within one hundred twenty days of reversion, or later, as permitted by the director for good cause shown, the tenant pays to the authority all amounts in arrears, such escrow account shall be reinstated with the same balance as of the date of reversion.
(g) Each housing authority shall establish written procedures to implement this section. Such procedures shall include provisions for tenants to dispute an action by a housing authority made under this section.
(h) On or before November 1, 1992, and annually thereafter, the director of each housing authority shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Housing on the tenant escrow account program administered by the housing authority.
(P.A. 91-202; P.A. 92-101; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 13-234, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 92-101 amended Subsec. (b) to specify that the amounts deposited in the account may be revised when the account reaches 100% of the amount or the director deems appropriate, amended Subsec. (d) to authorize the commissioner to extend the period to vacate for any good cause, added Subsec. (h) requiring the director of each housing authority establishing a program under this section to submit an annual report to the commissioner of housing and made technical changes in Subsecs. (c) and (f); P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 13-234, reference to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development was changed editorially by the Revisors to reference to Commissioner of Housing in Subsec. (h), effective June 19, 2013.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 8 - Zoning, Planning, Housing and Economic and Community Development

Chapter 128 - Department of Housing: Municipal Housing Projects

Section 8-38. - Finding and declaration of necessity.

Section 8-39. - Definitions.

Section 8-39a. - “Affordable housing” defined.

Section 8-40. - Creation of housing authorities.

Section 8-41. - Appointment. Qualifications and tenure of commissioners. Selection of tenant commissioners. Commissioners authorized to serve as justice of the peace or registrar of voters.

Section 8-41a. - Liability of authority for actions of commissioners and employees.

Section 8-42. - Commissioners and executive or managerial employees to have no interest in project. Limitation on employment of former commissioners.

Section 8-43. - Removal of commissioners; subpoenas.

Section 8-44. - Powers of authority.

Section 8-44a. - Housing authority programs for social and supplementary services, project rehabilitation and improvement and energy conservation. State grants-in-aid, loans and deferred loans. Rental Rehabilitation Fund. Operation or management plan...

Section 8-44b. - Housing authority police force.

Section 8-45. - Rental rates and tenant selection for low rental projects.

Section 8-45a. - Consideration of criminal record, alcohol abuse and status as registered sexual offender of applicant or proposed occupant.

Section 8-45b. - Waiver of regulations.

Section 8-46. - Penalty for false statement.

Section 8-47. - Considerations in fixing income limits.

Section 8-48. - Rentals for persons receiving welfare aid.

Section 8-49. - Cooperation of housing authorities.

Section 8-50. - Eminent domain.

Section 8-51. - Zoning and building laws.

Section 8-52. - Bonds.

Section 8-53. - Provisions of bonds, trust indentures and mortgages.

Section 8-54. - Remedies of an obligee of authority.

Section 8-55. - Additional remedies conferrable by authority.

Section 8-56. - Aid from federal and state governments.

Section 8-56a. - Public hearing prior to construction by authority or developer of HUD-assisted projects.

Section 8-57. - Agreements to secure federal assistance.

Section 8-58. - Exemption from taxes and Uniform Securities Act. Payments in lieu of taxes.

Section 8-59. - Contracts for payments to state public body.

Section 8-60. - Cooperation in undertaking housing projects.

Section 8-61. - Advances to housing authority; bonds and notes issued to finance housing projects.

Section 8-62. - Procedure for state public body.

Section 8-63. - Reports.

Section 8-64. - Disposal of property by a housing authority.

Section 8-64a. - Disposal of housing project by housing authority.

Section 8-64b. - Nondisclosure of tenant Social Security and bank account numbers.

Section 8-64c. - Resident participation plan for major physical transformation and disposition activities.

Section 8-65. - Exemption of property from execution sale.

Section 8-66. - Administration of projects established for housing war workers.

Section 8-67. - Injury on housing authority property.

Section 8-68. - Housing research and studies.

Section 8-68a. - State grants for community centers.

Section 8-68b. - Bond issue.

Section 8-68c. - Notice of certain actions concerning federally assisted multifamily rental housing for low and moderate income persons and families.

Section 8-68d. - Housing authority annual report.

Section 8-68e. - Financial assistance to housing authorities for rehabilitation of uninhabitable dwelling units.

Section 8-68f. - Tenants' rights and grievance procedures. Regulations.

Section 8-68g. - Developer's fees charged by eligible developers.

Section 8-68h. - Tenant escrow accounts.

Section 8-68i. - Emergency housing in projects.

Section 8-68j. - Financially distressed development. Transfer to Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.

Section 8-68k. - Compliance with requirements for operation and disposition of housing projects by successor.

Section 8-68l. - Tenants' use of common areas for political activity.

Section 8-69. - Moderate rental housing projects and moderate cost housing; declaration of policy.

Section 8-70. - State assistance.

Section 8-70a. - Pilot program for rehabilitation and private management of moderate rental housing projects.

Section 8-71. - Payments in lieu of taxes, assessments and use charges. Municipal waiver of payment. Exception.

Section 8-72. - Operation of projects. Rentals. Tenant eligibility. Inspections. Semiannual statements. Penalty for false statement.

Section 8-72a. - Maximum income limits. Exceptions: Factors to be considered.

Section 8-73. - Eviction of families having income over maximum limits. Waiver of eviction requirement.

Section 8-74. - Hearing on and approval of proposed projects. Use of modern materials. Regulations. Wage rates.

Section 8-75. - Veterans' preference.

Section 8-76. - Sale of projects. Regulations to establish priority order of purchasers. Payment and disposition of purchase price.

Section 8-76a. - Commissioner's authority to service notes and mortgages.

Section 8-77. - Preference among municipalities.

Section 8-78. - Aggregate of bonds and notes state may issue for moderate rental housing projects.

Section 8-79. - Preliminary expenses.

Section 8-79a. - Regulations.

Section 8-80. - Issuance of bonds and notes.

Section 8-81. - Repayment of loans.

Section 8-81a. - Housing project adaptable for use and occupancy by disabled persons. Pilot program. Regulations. Report.

Section 8-82. - Purchase and sale of units by state. Insurance of mortgage loans. Mortgage loans.

Section 8-83. - Preference in granting mortgage loans.

Section 8-84. - Regulations.

Section 8-85. - Foreclosure; conveyance of title and assignment of claims to state.

Section 8-86. - Housing bonds or notes.

Section 8-87. - Housing Mortgage Fund.

Section 8-88. - Investment.

Section 8-89. - Commissioner to be agent for mortgages and loans.

Section 8-90. - Applicability of provisions.

Section 8-91. - Payment of administrative expenses.

Section 8-92. - Inspection by commissioner.

Section 8-93. - Tax exemption.

Section 8-94. - Wage rates.

Section 8-95 to 8-104. - Flood relief housing, generally.

Section 8-105. - Declaration of public necessity.

Section 8-106. - Definitions.

Section 8-107. - Development of projects.

Section 8-108. - Cooperation with housing authorities or federal government.

Section 8-109. - Bonds to be legal investments.

Section 8-110. - Federal aid.

Section 8-111. - Powers to be additional.

Section 8-112. - Declaration of policy.

Section 8-112a. - Declaration of policy.

Section 8-113. - Definitions. Powers of housing authorities.

Section 8-113a. - Definitions.

Section 8-114. - Contracts for state assistance.

Section 8-114a. - State assistance to authorities, municipal developers, nonprofit corporations and housing partnerships.

Section 8-114b. - Municipal authorities.

Section 8-114c. - Mobile manufactured homes. Transfer to municipal housing authorities.

Section 8-114d. - Resident services coordinators.

Section 8-115. - Commission to approve plans, financing and rental.

Section 8-115a. - Authority of Commissioner of Housing.

Section 8-115b. - Powers of authority.

Section 8-116. - Occupants need not be family units; design of construction; housing restricted to elderly.

Section 8-116a. - Occupants need not be family units; design of construction; maximum income and asset limit; waiting list; false statement.

Section 8-116b. - Possession of pets.

Section 8-116c. - Eligibility for occupancy. Eviction.

Section 8-116d. - Termination of lease or rental agreement upon acceptance for admission to housing project.

Section 8-117. - Establishment of rentals. Penalty for false statement concerning income.

Section 8-117a. - Applicability of other statutes.

Section 8-117b. - Disposal of projects. Conversion to a congregate housing project.

Section 8-118. - Payments in lieu of taxes and assessments.

Section 8-118a. - Payments in lieu of taxes and assessments.

Section 8-118b. - Contract to convey project to state on default.

Section 8-118c. - Bond issue for additional development cost of projects.

Section 8-119. - Bond issue.

Section 8-119a. - Bond issues.

Section 8-119b. - Expenses payable from fund.

Section 8-119c. - Amendment of contracts for assistance.

Section 8-119aa. - Purchase of conversion condominiums for state assisted housing.

Section 8-119bb. - Declaration of policy.

Section 8-119cc. - Implementation.

Section 8-119dd. - State assistance to authorities, municipal developers, nonprofit corporations and housing partnerships.

Section 8-119ee. - Bond issue.

Section 8-119ff. - Preliminary expenses.

Section 8-119gg. - Payments in lieu of taxes and assessments.

Section 8-119hh. - Disposal of projects.

Section 8-119ii. - Expenses payable from fund.

Section 8-119jj. - Regulations.

Section 8-119kk. - Rental assistance for elderly persons residing in state-assisted rental housing for the elderly. Regulations.

Section 8-119ll. - Comprehensive assessment of rental assistance for elderly persons and persons with disabilities.

Section 8-119d. - Declaration of policy.

Section 8-119e. - Definitions.

Section 8-119f. - Program design and oversight.

Section 8-119g. - Implementation. Maximum income limits for admission. Deduction for congregate housing employment income.

Section 8-119h. - State assistance to authorities, municipal developers, nonprofit corporations and housing partnerships.

Section 8-119i. - Bond issues. Administrative costs.

Section 8-119j. - Conversion to a “housing project”.

Section 8-119k. - Payment in lieu of taxes.

Section 8-119l. - Operating subsidies for congregate housing projects.

Section 8-119m. - Congregate housing and congregate housing project joint pilot program. Regulations.

Section 8-119n. - Congregate housing project pilot program offering assisted living services. Regulations. Report.

Section 8-119t. - Grants-in-aid for expanding independent living opportunities. Definition. Regulations.

Section 8-119x. - Database of dwelling units suitable for persons with disabilities.